Western Michigan Broncos Face Central Michigan Chippewas in Battle for the Victory Cannon

The Western Michigan Broncos are set to face off against their rivals, the Central Michigan Chippewas, in the annual Battle for the Victory Cannon on Tuesday, November 19, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be held at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

This matchup marks the 95th meeting between the two teams, with the Broncos leading the all-time series 53-39-2. Western Michigan has dominated the rivalry in recent years, winning the last two meetings and six consecutive games at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The Victory Cannon Trophy, established as a nod to both WMU and CMU’s ROTC programs, has been won by the Broncos 10 times and the Chippewas six times.

The Broncos, currently 5-5 overall and 4-2 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), are one victory away from securing a bowl bid. Despite losing their last two games, they remain in contention for the conference title if they win out. Quarterback Hayden Wolff has been a key player for Western Michigan, completing 67.8% of his passes for 1,962 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. Running back Jaden Nixon has also been stellar, averaging over seven yards per carry and scoring 12 touchdowns.

Central Michigan, under the leadership of head coach Jim McElwain, has had a challenging season with a record of 3-7 overall and 1-5 in the MAC. The Chippewas have lost five straight games and will be looking to play spoiler for their conference foes. Senior running back Marion Lukes and junior wide receiver Chris Parker are among the key players for Central Michigan, with Lukes having carried for 617 yards and five touchdowns, and Parker catching 24 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns.

Odds favor the Broncos, with Western Michigan listed as a 6.5-point road favorite and the over/under set at 56.5 points. The game is expected to be competitive, with Western Michigan’s potent offense facing a Central Michigan team that has performed better at home.